Automobile-signal



P. WERTZ.

'AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. nPPLlcATloN min M'AY 21, 1920.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

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AU'roivioBILEQsIGNAn 'n Specication of Letters Patent. i

4 `Patented oct. 2e, i920.

Application iled May 21, .1920( Serial No.` 383,112.

To all lwhom t may concern v le it known thatl, PETER ERTZ', a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Alle glieny and, State of' Pennsylvania, have in i ventedk a new and useful Improvement in Automobile-Signals, of which the following 'is a specification.

This invention relates to ksignals for automobiles. Particularly it relates to `signals adapted to be mounted on the rear ofjvehicles, to indicate to other persons that the driver ofthe vehicle is about to stop or turn out of its previous course of travel.

Specically, the invention comprises the provision of a lamp adapted tovgive signals at night, and a movable arm adapted to give signals inv daylight. Particular 'means for operating the light and signal arm arelprovided as below described. l p j Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an automobile showing the present invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the saine chine showing Athe safety arm in raised position; Fig. 8 is an enlarged ver-VA tical section through the portion oi the operating mechanism icor signaling; and. Fig.

4 is partial vertical sectionat right angles 4 to that shown in Fig. 3Q I The ordinary automobile carries a vred light on the rear to show the position of the vehicle at night. During the day time there is no particular signaling device provided. lt is customary for the driver to indicate a change of his course by extending his hand from the side of the vehicle. The present invention is adapted to provide an additional signal light for use in the dark, and to provide a mechanical arm, more positive in its action, and more easily perceptible `from the rear.I than the drivers hand, for

' use in the day.

ln Fig. 1, a grammatically mobile body. rl`his lever is kfulcrumed at some intermediate point, and the lower end is attached to Wire, or chain, 2, which extends to the rear of the vehicle, passing around idle roller 3, carried by the vehicle body, and is attached to the loiver end ci a vertically disposed plunger member 4, the loiver end oi which extends through opening in the bottom of a supportingr inember 5, which is rigidly attached to the autohand lever 1 is shown. diamobile body, as shown. A tubular casing `top `by threaded cap 7. lwhich is vin effect a plunger, is' surrounded Vby coil spring `7 the lower end of vvhichseats applied to the ordinary automember 6 kis adapted tov be mounted in ,the supportingrmember 5, and is closed at the The kmember 4,

on` the top'ko the supporting member 5,'and

the upper end yof which bears against a shoulder formed by a head 8 ixedto the 'member 4. A pin 10 'is fixed in the head y S, and extends through an arcuate slot l1 in a disk 12, which is fastened rigidly to the ivallo` the tube 6. A ,pin 13 isXedin the disk 12, and the Wall ofthe tube '6, and furnishes a bearing fora signal vane 14.,.ivhich is rotatably mounted on thepin 13. rThe pin 10 extends loosely throughvahole in this vane, and functions belov7 described. A screen 15 1s mounted in front of the tube 6,

and is adapted to hide froinyieiv the greater' part of the tube, 4and to cover the ,vane 14, when that member is in vertical position.

A. signal light 16is mounted on the vehicle bodybehind thevane 14 and screen ln place of the ordinary red lens, a yellow lens 17 is used; AAn opening 18 in the vane, and an opening' 19 in the screen are situated justin 'liront of the ksignal lens 17,'and are adapted totransmit light from thesignallamp. The

opening" 18 `in the vane carries a red lens 18a. On therear side oi the vane 14 some suchniordas Safety is painted, in 'striking 4rcolors, so as to be readily observed by any person looking 'at the vehicle from tl'io'reai'.

The chain Z'has an extension 20 extending;y

-to the foot brake 21 so that the signal apparatus will be operated when that pedal is y depressed, as vvell as when the lever 1 is pulled back.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the driver ot a cai' kWishes to signal that he is going to stop or turn, or when he does actually put on his brake to stop, the

cable 2 Will be pulled Jforward, depressing! the plunger 4. rlhe pin 10 being pulled down Will move the vane 14, upon its pivotal mounting` 13, the pin 10 moving around in the arcuate slot 11, as it goes doivn. This will throw the vane from a vertical position to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2. The Word Safety thereon will be apparent to persons looking4 from the rear in daylight,

and will Warn them that the vehicle is about to turn or to stop. n

The lamp 16k Vvvlien the vane 14 `is in normal position, as shown vin Fig. 3, will show red, as is customary with taillights of automobiles. When the signal vane is raised to horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2, the red lens 18a will have been removed, and the lens 17 will be the only one screening the light, therefore the tail light will change from red to yellow, thus indicating to persons observing from the rear that the vehicle is about to stop or turn. Or the lenses may be placed in reverse relation from that described, if desired.

Or, if preferred, the ordinary tail light may be used on the car, and this signaling apparatus above described may be used in addition to the constant red signal. In that case the lens 17 may be yellow and the lens 18 red, as above described, resulting in a change of one of the tail lights from red to yellow, when a signal is to be given. Or, the vane may be made solid, thus entirely obscuring the light 16,` and bringing into view an additional red light when the signal vane is raised. i

The device is simple, economical, and may be attached to any car with small expense. Itis positive in operation, and is designed to render driving in crowded traiiic, and under modern conditions more safe. The many uses and advantages of the device will be apparent to those familiar with the art.

I claim:

1. A signaling device for automobiles comprising a screen, a signal vane normally hidden by the screen, a plunger attached to the vane said plunger being adapted to move said vane to horizontal position when the plunger is actuated, and means to depress the plunger.

2. A signaling device for automobiles comprising a screen, a signaling vane normally behind said screen, ay pivot pin carrying the vane, a second pin attached to the vane, and means tov depress the second pin in order to turn the vane on the first pin as a pivot and to bring the vane into horizontal position.

Y 3. An automobile signaling device, comprising a screen having a hole therein, a

vsignaling vane mounted behind the screen Vsignaling vane mounted behind the screen and having a hole therein normally registering with the hole in the screen, a yellow lens mounted in the hole in the vane, ared signalingv light in line with the holes in the vane and screen, and means operable from the drivers seat of the vehicle to raise the vane to horizontal position, and to uncover the red lens of the signal light..

5.v In La signaling device for automobiles, a tube adapted to be mounted on the rear of the car body, a chain extending to the front of the car, a plunger situated in the tube and attached to the said chain, a spring normally holding the plunger in raised position, a pin fixed in the head of the plunger, a signaling vane pivoted on the outside of the tube and having a hole thereinengaging the pin fixed in the plunger, and means controllable by the driver of the car to actuate the chain and plunger mechanism to move the signaling vane from vertical to horizontal position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER WERTZ Witness :v

HOWARD F. SNIVELY.' 

